All it took was one equalizing score to pull Delgado and his Conestoga Valley teammates even. Once that happened, the suddenly energized Buckskins played as if they were possessed and ready to tackle whatever opponent stood before them.

Maybe even the German National Team.

Sparked by Andrew Barton’s game-tying score, Delgado responded by pocketing two more goals as Dave Hartlaub’s Buckskins collared a 3-1 victory over a stunned Cumberland Valley club in the District 3-AAA boys’ soccer championship.

Zachary Rider chipped in two saves for Conestoga Valley (20-2-2), which won its first 3-AAA title in its first 3-AAA final. The Buckskins, who were still trailing with 17 minutes to play, became the first side to rack up multiple finishes this season on the Mid-Penn Commonwealth Division champions (19-2-1).

Up next for Conestoga Valley is a return trip to Hersheypark Stadium Tuesday night and a date with West Chester Henderson in the PIAA Class AAA round of 16.

Brenden Amanto (10) celebrates his first-half finish with his Cumberland Valley teammates. CV wound up dropping a 3-1 verdict to Conestoga Valley in the 3-AAA title game. (Paul Chaplin, PennLive.com)

Brenden Amanto bagged the lone score for Cumberland Valley, which also is headed for the state playoffs. Matt Billman’s Eagles will be heading for District 6 territory and a showdown with Commonwealth Division playmate State College.

“We wanted it,” Hartlaub said. “We have special players and we wanted it. Matt always has a fantastic side, he always does. Last year we were unfortunate and they took it to us here at Hersheypark. It was just our turn, I think.

“It was a magical night for us.”

With an incredible 13-minute stretch mixed in.

Down 1-0 with the midway point of the second half already in the rear view, Conestoga Valley was an altogether different side once Barton nodded home Adam Eidemiller’s service from the right corner flag at 63:35.

Suddenly even with their Mid-Penn adversaries, Hartlaub’s Buckskins upped the energy quotient and stayed on the attack constantly, forcing Eagles goalkeeper Cam Avery (5 saves) to make several stops just to keep the game at 1-all.

Just before Barton cashed in, Avery appeared to pin Ahmed Qaisi's headball attempt against the right post. Moments later, Barton and Qaisi were both in position when Eidemiller's service spun in.

Andrew Barton (19), shown here, scored on this headball finish to pull Conestoga Valley into a 1-1 tie with Cumberland Valley with 16:25 to go. Conestoga Valley eventually won the game 3-1. (Paul Chaplin, PennLive.com)

Enter Delgado, who spent most of the night trying to avoid the squadron of defenders the Eagles sent in his direction. Especially when the ball was nearby.

“I knew just when we got that first goal it was going to come,” Delgado admitted. “Because they were going to try to push up and get their goal to beat us 2-1. I knew that if we could play one over the top … the goalie didn’t come out all game so I just knew I could flick it over him [if he did].”

No sooner had Qaisi’s ball splashed down in the penalty area — with the 6-4 Avery fully extended and charging hard off his line — when the 5-6 Delgado lifted off to go after the high-bouncing sphere. One nod later, the ball was arching over Avery’s arms and into the net.

Just 10:45 remained.

"It just happened," Delgado admitted. "I've been able to jump pretty high, just because of my legs, but I think that time might have been the highest I've ever jumped in my life.

"It just came to me. I don't know what happened."

Neither did Cumberland Valley.

"In the second half, there was a stretch when we needed more energy and, ultimately, the first goal came out of that," Billman lamented. "We didn't respond. It's the first time all year we didn't respond.

"They're pressing to get it and we didn't absorb that and counterpunch and they scored," Billman continued. "We still didn't respond."

Conestoga Valley's Nate Delgado (21) spent much of the night fighting off Cumberland Valley defenders such as Greg Armbrust. Delgado, however, found enough space to score twice in the final 10:45 as Conestoga Valley closed out a 3-1 victory. (Paul Chaplin, PennLive.com)

Then, with Cumberland Valley pushing numbers up in an effort to locate an equalizer that could have pushed this thing into overtime, Conestoga Valley struck again with 3:35 to play when Delgado uncorked a shot from the right wing that whistled into the far corner of the net.

And that shot came with Eagles left back Tom Schlarp draped all over the Buckskins’ all-state striker.

“I saw the goalie come out a little bit and I just threw it to the other corner,” Delgado said, a gold medal dangling from his neck and a grin etched across his face.

That would be enough to hand the District 3-AAA championship trophy to Conestoga Valley. Delgado’s second finish also meant a disappointed Cumberland Valley club was going to receive silver medals for the second November in succession. Hempfield got the Eagles a year earlier -- in OT.

“I’m proud of our guys, we’ve set goals,” Billman admitted. “We had a goal of being undefeated and we got to that last game and we didn’t meet it.

“And we had a goal of winning this. We got here, but we didn’t meet it and I think the lesson we need to learn is as hard as we’ve worked to get to a point where we can meet a goal, we have to work twice as hard to finish it off,” Billman added.

“We didn’t do that today, but we’re not done. We’re in the state tournament. … It’s all about what we do now. We’re gonna refocus and we’re gonna come back and have a great run. That’s our plan.”

Although Conestoga Valley pressed for lengthy segments of the opening half without testing Avery a whole bunch, it was Cumberland Valley that struck first when Amanto volleyed in Ben Zambetti's skim at 27:58. Cole Smith initiated the scoring play with a terrific corner from the right flag -- same flag that would torment the Eagles later — that found Zambetti at the near post.

Cumberland Valley also dominated the front end of the second half, even manufactured dangerous chances from Jesse Zimmerman and Jack Abom that sailed wide and high.

"You talk about the halftime speech," Hartlaub said. "My assistant coach [and Hartlaub's head coach at Elco] Mike Seigfried has been in a lot of these games and his thing was as soon as you get that first one you're gonna get the next one. 'Cause you just know that's how soccer is.

"If you can get that equalizer, you're going to have the momentum and the boys really got pumped up after [Barton's goal tied it]."

Pumped up enough to score three times in 13 minutes against a quality opponent that had not conceded three goals in a single game to that point.

"We get irritated when we give up a goal," Billman said. "We work very hard at team defending. I didn't see panic, just not the energy or response we needed."

So, as a result, Cumberland Valley finds itself ticketed for a third scrap with Commonwealth Division rival State College in Tuesday's Class AAA round of 16 — likely in Mill Hall.

"We talked about being in the position we wanted to be in, which was if we win, we'd probably be here and we'd play a team we had information about," Billman said. "We'll take whoever we get. I think the best thing right now is coming off this game we're irritated.

"It doesn't matter who we play, we're irritated right now."

Disappointed, too.

Conestoga Valley, meanwhile, is parked at the opposite end of the emotional spectrum.